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Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian, American Hero of WWII has passed away

Family, friends celebrate life of Arthur Jibilian

The following article can be found at http://www.wtol.com

Posted by Kate Oatis - email

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Family and friends celebrated the life of Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian Saturday in Fremont, one week after he lost his battle to cancer. Jibby, also known as the "radio man," helped rescue hundreds of airmen during Operation Halyard during World War II.

"There are his medals," said Debi Jibilian, Arthur's daughter, while showing off her dad's awards. "He has a silver star on top, and he's a Navy guy that got it, which is unusual in itself."

Jibilian was an American hero who helped rescue more than 500 downed fighter pilots from behind enemy lines 65 years ago during WWII. He'd been nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest award given in the military, and his family wants to make sure he gets it.

"I really believe at this point that there are so many politics involved, I don't know if it will ever come through," Debi said. "The only reason that the medal is so important is that it will lend credibility to the fight to clear Mihalovich. That's all daddy wanted the medal for. He wants Mihalovch's name cleared and the Serbian people recognized."

More on Operation Halyard and Mihalovich.

Click attached video for Mika Highsmith's full report.

Click attached links for more stories about Mr. Jibilian.

Copyright 2010 WTOL. All rights reserved.

"Halyard Mission" in Yugoslavia (1944)


Above: Art Jibilian at the age of 20, during which time he voluntarily parachuted behind enemy lines in Pranjane, Serbia, 1944, to rescue more than 500 downed American airmen.


Above: Captain Lalich and Jibilian are composing a message to send over radio to Bari, Italy.


Above: George Vujnovich (standing, right) greets Nick Lalich (standing, center, with mustache) and the last group of downed airmen returning from Pranjane, Yugoslavia, on December 28, 1944. Jibby Jibilian is kneeling in front of Nick Lalich.

University of Toledo's (Ohio) Homecoming Parade Honors Heroes
October 2009


The following article can be found at: http://www.toledoblade.com

500
Above: In this 1991 photo the banner reads that the 500 American pilots were rescued by Serbs during WWII. This banner was carried by surviving American pilots rescued by Serbs in WWII in the military parade "Desert Storm" in New York City, celebrating the victory over Iraq. In the center of the photo is Major Feldman, American pilot rescued by Serbs during WWII. He carried the banner in the "Desert Storm" parade in New York City, 1991. Photo by Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, 1991.


Above: This banner was displayed at the "Parade of Heroes" in Toledo, Ohio by American hero Jibby Jilibian. This banner commemorates the historic "Halyard Mission" and was made by Mr. Ilija Jaksic, Businessman from Ridgewood, New York and Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, President, Tesla Memorial Society of New York.

War Medals Awarded to the WWII Hero, Art Jibilian


Above: Located in the center is the Silver Star. On the left is the Medal for WWII. On the right is the Medal for the Eastern and African campaign.

Ohio Senate Recognition Honoring
Art Jibilian

The following was an article from
Fox Toledo News Television (Ohio)
on
December 9, 2008:

Remembering the
Forgotten 500

Last Edited: Saturday, 13 Dec 2008, 12:01 AM EST
Created On: Tuesday, 09 Dec 2008, 2:27 AM EST

    Remembering the Forgotten 500

    It was no easy task. Arthur Jibilian of Fremont, who was a U.S.…

    Retired sailors remember Pearl Harbor

    As a nation on Sunday paused to commemorate the bombing of …


    Above: Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General, Tesla Memorial Society of New York with Art Jibilian at the award ceremony. Dr. Ljubo Vujovic is holding a photo of the 'Forgotten 500'.

SWANTON - It was no easy task.

Arthur Jibilian of Fremont, who was a U.S. Navy radioman and a member of the OSS - a precursor to the CIA - had to parachute into the German-occupied territory of Yugoslavia and stay there for months.

He had just turned 20 after being drafted in the Navy in March of 1943.

Because of his efforts, he helped rescue more than 500 American airmen and other Allied Forces soldiers from harms way during the end of World War II. It's one of the untold stories of the greatest generation that is finally receiving world-wide exposure.

"We brought down our 513 shot-down American airmen from behind the lines, and there was little publicity on this," Aurthur said. "The reason why I want to get all this in front of the American people is because it's a story that they deserve to know."

Jibilian's heroic efforts is the basis of a recently-published book called " The Forgotten 500 " by Gregory Freeman. It draws upon declassified documents and intimate interviews that recount a major World War II rescue mission in 1944 near the end of WWII called ' Operation Halyard .'

On Sunday, the 67th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jibilian was recognized for his efforts by former and current Ohio National Guard military members, and federal and state dignitaries. Other special guests that paid honor traveled from upstate New York and Pittsburgh.

"Jibby we are so happy to be here today and celebrate this moment," said U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

She along with U.S. Congressman Bob Latta and State Sens. Theresa Fedor and Mark Waggoner, gave personal thanks and honored the war veteran. The Ohio Air National Guard recognized Jibilian as a honorary colonel in the state's militia for his efforts.

"We are happy today to witness the great event, and giving the congressional award to this hero of the World War II," said Dr. Ljubo Vujovic, Secretary General of the Tesla Memorial Society of Ridgwood, NY.

Sunday's event was held in the Lt. Col. Addison Baker Building at the 180th Fighter Wing Base in Swanton, which held equally special meaning to the event. Lt. Col. Baker, a member of the Ohio Air National Guard's 112th Liaison Squadron, which predated the 180th Fighter Wings' 112th Fighter Squadron, received the Congressional Medal of Honor after leading his bomb group on a low-altitude allied bombing mission in 1943 over oil refineries at Ploiesti, Romania.

The bombing runs continued for the next year. During that time those 513 airmen were shot down by Nazi forces, most of which were on their way from Italy to bomb German-occupied oil fields in Romania.

Jibilian, who is dying from Leukemia, is the last surviving member of "Operation Halyard" - a majorly-secret rescue mission that plucked the airmen and other Allied soldiers between August - December of 1944 from under the Nazi's noses.

They did it from a crudely constructed airfield that was cleared on top of a hill in the Village of Pranjani, Serbia, a plateau 55 miles south of Belgrade. The mission was coordinated by the Americans, British and Serbians. The Allied forces worked closely with General Draza Mihailovich, a Serbian guerrilla, to carry out the rescue mission.

Jibilian, who was born in Cleveland but raised in Toledo, said, even after so many years, he can't believe how hard his job was. But it was worth it.

"When I look back on it, I'm amazed at what we have accomplished because we did this all under the Germans' noses," he said. "But we made it, and that's all that counts."

"The Forgotten 500" is currently being disccused to be made into a major motion picture.

(FOX Toledo's Allison Brown contributed to this report)



Above: Art Jibilian speaking at the award ceremony. Jibilian called "Where are the Serbs? Do we have any Serbian people in the room?". After Dr. Vujovic came to the podium, Jibilian said "When you go to Serbia, greet and kiss Serbian people and tell them we American pilots are grateful to the Serbian people because the Serbs saved our lives."


Above: Audience at the award ceremony.


Above: Audience at the award ceremony.